What is abandonment of a truck exactly? How to get the heck out?

From what you said there is little hope that you'll get paid. I try to always leave on good terms even when there is no way I'd return. I think you did the best you could for them and they are going to steal your money.

The only thing I'd of done different is go through the truck/trailer with a critical eye and then stop a a scale house and explain exactly what's going on. Yes you'll have a oos on your record but it might be worth it to get a little tit for tat.

 

My first question for you is,….How many questions did you ask so that you knew EXACTLY what you were getting into?
You need to quickly learn how to interview the interviewer so you have a better chance at protecting your interests.
You will almost certainly not see a single cent of what you are owed, Chalk that up to life experience. I believe Texas is an at will state, meaning that either party can sever the working relationship at any time without reason or cause. In the future, when things look as bleak as they did for you, one is often dollars to donuts further ahead to get yourself fired on the spot and told to clean out the truck. They may tell you to bring the truck back but once you are fired, you are under no obligation to do so and at least theoretically, would not be insured.
If your driving record is decent, don’t worry about the DAC report, they probably aren’t subscribers anyway and in the “lack of drivers” environment today, there isn’t much that can’t be convincingly explained away on those reports IF anyone even bothers to check.
The information that might be recorded in your FMCSA Clearinghouse file and PSP score is much more important.
I just went through a similar experience after being employed for almost six years at an eleven year “Hall of Fame Best Fleets to Drive For” carrier and can tell you it didn’t take me a week to find a better place to be….still waiting for them to post their crap with DAC so I can add a rebuttal. Good Luck in your new job search!

 

Since DAC comes up often, I had a list of questions + answers with sources about it.
I will share for those with a desire to know.

DAC Reports
What is a DAC report?
A DAC report covers the past ten years of a truck driver's employment history. It gives detailed information about a variety of items, which vary depending on what the motor carrier requested to see.

What does DAC employment history mean?
Drive-A-Check
The DAC stands for “Drive-A-Check” and is a detailed employment history file. DACs provide a detailed summary of: A truck driver's work history. Why a driver left a job or why he or she was fired. Feb 13, 2016

Drivers have the right to request a free copy of their own report through HireRight, Inc.
Follow the link below to request a copy of your DAC report.
Request a Copy of My DAC Report
I WANT A COPY OF MY HIRERIGHT DAC REPORT

 

This is so true it hurts....

When you "interview" for a driving position you need to look at it as YOU are interviewing THEM to see if its a place you want to be. So many people get hung up on the "gee, I gotta be good or they wont hire me".

If they are taking the time to bring you in for an interview, you could arrive naked and as long as you have a clean record and pass the piss test, you are in.

 

"This is a 1099 contractor position" when a job applicant hears or reads these words, RUN, RUN AND RUN FAST! As many driving jobs that I have searched out, the very first question out of my mouth, would always be, "you pay on a W-2 or 1099, if the reply is "1099" I always say, "bye" and hang the phone up.

 

But the BIG BUCKS!!! OMG, the BIG BUCKS!!!

 

DAC is not able to list a complete driver history.

The database surrvives on information provided by their member carriers.

Any driver who never worked for any DAC member carriers will not show up.

DAC pays a small amount to member carriers who submit a terminaton report; a set of check off items for the driver, time of employment, elligible for rehire, and more.

Some of the 'bad boy' check boxes are; abandoned load/equipment, criminal activity, and "personal contact requested".

Membership has various levels and costs.

Just MVR abstracts up to anything they find in courts, etc but the more you want; the more you pay.

I doubt if many one truck 'wonder' truckers spend the coin to access DAC, especially when so many cariers don't use DAC.

 

Did you ever get a "personal contact requested" on a reference? They can get very interesting. As in "I'm not putting anything in writing but if you ask the right questions the right way I can tell you a thing or two about that guy."

 

I used it once...I did receive a call a long time later.

To put perspective on it all; a few years later they guy was named a Goodyear 'Highway Hero'...

 

Contact the Texas workforce commission